Curtain-holding device.



No. 804,473. PATENTED NOV. 14. 1905. P. A. HOUGHTALING.

CURTAIN HOLDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED NOV. 14., 1905.

P. A. HOUGHTALING. CURTAIN HGLDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1904.

2 SHE HTS-SHEET 2.

FFICE.

PAUL A. HOUGHTALING, OF RIVERTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE CURTAINSUPPLY COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORA- TION OF NEW JERSEY.

CURTAIN-HOLDlNG DlEVlOIE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 14, 1905.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL A. HoUen'rALINe, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Riverton, in the county of Burlington and State ofNew Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCurtain- Holding Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in lo curtain-holding devices ofthat class wherein the holding device (usually called a curtainfixture)is applied to the lower end of a curtain mounted upon a spring-actuatedroller and which holding device or fixture is pro- 1 5 vided with meansfor frictionally engaging the window-casing and restraining the curtainagainst the upward pull of the roller.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and effectivecurtain-fixture which will hold the curtain at any desired elevation andwhich may be readily adjusted to different positions without thefriction holding-shoes readily coming out of the grooves in which theytravel.

A distinguishing feature of my invention consists in the provision of acurtain stick or bar having elastic end portions extending beyond theside margins of the curtain and at an angle to the bottom of the stickand affording by their elasticity the power for frictionally locking theshade or curtain against upward movement either by direct contact ofsaid elastic portions with the window-casing or by their action uponfriction holding-shoes and in combining with said stick means arrangedparallel to but noncoincident with the axis of the stick for retractingsaid elastic portions or the shoes operated thereby, said retractingmeans being 4 connected at their outer ends to said elastic end portionsor to the friction-shoes connected therewith and said retracting meansbeing preferably provided at their inner or proximate ends withpinch-handles.

In one embodiment of my invention the elastic end portions of thecurtain stick or bar contact with the bottoms of the grooves, and thusform in and of themselves friction holding-shoes, while in anotherembodiment 5 of the invention the friction-shoes are mounted upon theextended ends of the retractingrods. In still another embodiment of theinvention the ends of the retracting-rods themselves afi'ordfriction-shoes.

The several forms of construction above briefly indicated areillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a frontelevation, partly in section, showing the window-frame, the sash andcurtain, and the curtain-fixture applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a transversesectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 longitudinally throughthe pocket inclosing the retracting-rods and showing the latter in plan,it being necessary to show this one section only, inasmuch as theformation of the pinchhandles and their connecting portions are the samein all embodiments of the invention herein illustrated. Figs. 3, L, and5 are elevational views, partly in section, showing variousmodifications of my invention.

In the drawings, A represents the windowframe, B the sash, and C aflexible shade or curtain. The latter is intended to be mounted. on aspring-actuated shade-roller, which latter exerts a constant tendency towind up the shade, and to restrain this tendency and to guide the shadesmoothly and hold it in any desired position I apply my approved curtainfixture, various forms of which are shown in the drawings, but all ofwhich forms embody the same general principle. In each of said forms ofconstruction I employ a rigid curtain stick or bar D, which, as shown inFig. 1, is secured to the lower edge of the curtain or shade by means ofscrews or rivets (Z, so as to form a rigid binding-strip for the lowerend of the shade. This curtain-stick is provided at its extremities withelastic extensions d, which extend parallel to the side edges of thecurtain. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 these extensions (2are made to bear upon the collars c" of the friction-shoes c, said shoesbeing of considerable length and provided with rounded bearing-points cto engage the bottom wall of the groove in the window-frame.Retracting-rods 0 are connected to said shoes and are arranged to slidein a suitable pocket in the shade, the proximate ends of theretracting-rods being bent to provide pinch-handles 0. With the deviceas thus constructed the curtain stick or bar I) not only affords abinding-strip for the lower edge of the curtain, but as it extends IOOtransversely across the curtain it affords the rigid member or base ofthe curtain-fixture, prevents bending or folding of the curtain, andsupports the movable members of the fixture. The elastic extensions areshown in Fig. 1 as formed integrally with the bar D, and said bar may becomposed of a strip of fiat metal or it may be in the form of a slottedtube, the slot admitting the lower edge of the curtain or shade and theends being sufficiently reduced and so set as to afford a constantoutward pressure upon the friction holding-shoes.

In the form of construction shown in Fig. 3 the curtain-stick D hasstraight extensions 0 beyond the margins of the curtain and bentextensions 0, which afi'ord friction shoes, while the retracting-rodsare continuations of said extensions and integral with the curtainstickD and the friction-shoes c. In this construction the curtain-stick maybe composed of a single light rod the bending of which will aiford thenecessary elasticity to maintain the shoes in holding contact with thebottoms of the grooves. Practically the same construction is shown inFig. 4, the extensions 0 carrying springs 0 which are engaged at theirlower ends with the extended ends 0 of the retracting-rods, the latterbeing provided with bearing-points 0 which afford friction-shoes.

In Fig. 5 the curtain stick or bar D has its elastic extensions 0pivoted to the extended ends 0 of the retracting-rods, and the latterare provided with the rounded bearings 0 which form the frictionholding-shoes.

In the forms of construction shown in Figs. 3, A, and 5 it will beobserved that the curtain stick or bar D, as well as the retractingrods0, are inclosed in pockets afforded by two folds of the material of thecurtain or shade and parallel rows of stitching. In the constructionshown in Fig; 1 the retracting-rods are mounted in a similar pocket.

In the Various constructions illustrated it will be observed that thecurtain stick or bar affords a rigid member which is provided withelastic extensions whose elasticity affords the power for frictionallyholding the curtain, that said elastic extensions may of themselvesconstitute the holding-shoes or may afiord the power for applying suchshoes, and that in each case the retracting means are arranged parallelto the curtain stick or bar, but noncoincident therewith. Theseprovisions afford means for applying the pressure at one side of thelongitudinal axis of the rigid shade is also observed that the maximumlength of the holding and guiding means is such as to prevent the readytilting of the fixture and to restrain the tendency of the holding meansto come out of the grooves when the fixture is tilted.

WVhile this curtain-fixture affords an efiicient means for holding aspring-actuated curtain or shade, it will be observed that there are fewparts and those of simple construction and that the fixture as a wholecan be cheaply made and is not likely to get out of order.

In some of the claims I make use-of the term complementary securingmeans arranged parallel with and separated from said curtain-stick, andby this term I mean the rod or rods 0, Fig. 1, or the correspondingparts of the other forms illustrated in the other figures or theequivalents thereof.

I claim 1. A curtain-fixture comprising a pair of rod portions onemovable relative to the other, a pocket for the inner ends thereof,shoes at the outer ends of said rod portions, and a connecting portionintermediate the shoes and independent of the pocket adapted to move theshoes in opposite directions.

2. A curtain-fixture comprising a pair of rod portions one movablerelative to the other, shoes at the outer ends of said rod portions, anda continuous yielding connecting member between said shoes tending tomove them in opposite directions.

3. A curtain-fixture com prising a pair of rod portions one movablerelative to the other, a pocket for the inner ends thereof, shoes at theouter ends of said rod portions, and a connecting device intermediatethe shoes and without the pocket adapted to move the shoes in oppositedirections.

4:. A curtain-fixture comprising a pair of rod portions one movablerelative to the other, shoes at the outer ends thereof provided withspring portions, and a continuous connecting member including saidspring portions between said shoes tending to move them in oppositedirections.

5. A curtain-fixture comprising a pocket, a pair of shoes at the endsthereof operatively associated therewith, and a connecting deviceintermediate the shoes and independent of the pocket adapted to move theshoes in opposite directions.

6. A curtain-fixture comprising the following instrumentalities, to wit:a stick, a pair of rod portions one movable relative to the otherarranged at points removed from said stick, and means intermediate theouter ends of the rod portionsand the adjacent ends of the stick wherebyportions of said instrumentalities constitute retaining or holdingparts.

7. A curtain-fixture comprising the following instrumentalities, to wit:a stick, a pair of rod portions one movable relative to the otherarranged at points removed from said stick, and connecting portionsbetween the outer ends of the rod portions and the adjacent ends of thestick, one of said connecting portions being yieldable whereby portionsof said instrumentalities constitute friction holding or retainingparts.

8. A curtain-fixture comprising the following instrumentalities, to,wit: a stick, a pair of rod portions one movable relative to the otherarranged at points removed from said stick, and spring portionsintermediate the outer ends of the rod portions and adjacent ends of thestick whereby portions of said instrumentalities constitute frictionholding or retaining parts.

9. In a curtain-holding lixture, a spring-actuated holding memberadapted to engage the guide-groove of a window-casing, and a pinchhandleformed to project without said guidegroove, said pinclrhandle and thespring being integrally connected.

10. In a curtain-holding fixture, spring-actuated holdingmembers adaptedto engage the guide-grooves of a window-casing, and pinchhandles formedto project without said guidegrooves, said pinch-handles and the springsbeing integrally connected.

11. In a curtain-fixture, holding parts, a connecting part betweencorresponding ends thereof, said connecting part and the holding partsbeing integrally connected, and pinchhandles carried by the oppositeends thereof.

12. In a curtain -'lixture, holding parts, a connecting part betweencorresponding ends thereof,and pinch-handles carried by the other endsthereof, the whole being of integral formation.

13. In combination with a shade having a pocket, oppositely disposedrods therein adapted to shift longitudinally and provided with a springconnection located without said pocket and between the outer ends ofsaid rods for creating a holding pressure.

14-. In combination with a curtain or shade, a curtain stick or barsecured thereto, and complementary means arranged parallel with andseparated from said curtain stick or bar connected thereto at its outerends, the connecting portions being retractable inwardly and normallyprojecting beyond the edges of the curtain to constitute guides.

15. In combination with a curtain or shade, a curtain stick or barsecured thereto, and complementary means arranged parallel with andseparated from said curtain stick or bar I connected thereto at itsouter ends whereby connecting portions tion being retractable inwardlyand normally projecting beyond the edge of the curtain to constitute aguide.

17. A curtain-fixture comprising a curtain stick or bar adapted to becarried by the curtain, friction b :aring-surfaces adapted to engage thewindow-frame, spring portions normall y acting to maintain saidfrictionbearingsurfaces in holding engagement, and retracting-rods for saidfriction bearing-surfaces adapted to be mounted on the curtain parallelto and without the curtain-stick.

18. A curtain-fixture comprising a curtain stick or bar adapted to becarried by the curtain, friction bearing-surfaces adapted to engage thewindow-frame, spring portions normally acting to maintain said frictionbearingsurfaces in holding engagement, and retracting-rods for saidfriction bearing-surfaces adapted to be mounted on the curtain independently of and parallel to but non-coincident with the axis of thecurtain-stick.

19. The combination of a curtain, holding means therefor includinglongitudinally-movable rod portions carried by the curtain, acurtain-stick extending across the curtain and carried thereby at apoint removed from said rod portions and having spring means at the.

end thereof for moving the rod portions outwardly, and means formanually retracting the rod portions.

20. The combination of a curtain, a cu rtainstick extending across thecurtain and having resilient portions, a pair of rod portions carried bythe curtain at points removed from said curtain-stick, the resilientportions of the curtain-stick being adapted to force said rodv portionsapart, and means for manually moving the rod portions toward each other.

21. The combination of a curtain, a curtainstick extending across thesame, and having resilient portions beyond the edges of the curtain, anda pair of rod portions carried by the curtain at points removed fromsaid curtainstick and normally thrust outwardly by said resilientportions of the curtain-stick.

22. The combination of a curtain, rod portions carried by the lowerportion of the curtain, friction bearing-surfaces for engaging thewindow-frame, and a curtain-stick extending across the curtain at apoint removed from said rod portions and having resilient portionsacting to force the rod portions outwardly and the frictionbearing-surfaces into contact with the window-frame.

23. The combination of a curtain stick or bar adapted to extend acrossthe curtain with its ends extended beyond the edge of the curtain, rodportions arranged at points removed from said curtain stick or bar alsoadapted to be carried by the curtain and having endwise movement, andresilient portions located beyond the edge of the curtain intermediatethe curtain-stick and the rod portions tending to IIO move the said rodportions awayfrom each other and toward the side walls of a windowframe.

26L. In a curtain-fixture, the combination of a curtain stick or baradapted to be mounted transversely of a curtain or shade and havingangularly-bent elastic portions provided with outwardly-pressed frictionbearin, ;-surfaces and retraotingrod portions therefor also adapted tobe mounted on said curtain externally of and parallel with saidcurtain-stick,

' said retracting-rod portions having pinch-handles at their innerproximate ends.

25. In a curtain-fixture, the combination of a curtain stick or baradapted to be mounted transversely of a curtain or shade and havingangularly-bent elastic portions provided with outwardly-pressed frictionbearing-surfaces, and retractingrod portions therefor also adapted to bemounted on said curtain externally of and parallel with saidcurtain-stick, said retracting-rod portions being provided with meansfor drawing them together.

26. In a curtain-fixture, the combination of a curtain stick or baradapted to be mounted transversely of a curtain or shade, frictionbearing-surfaces elastically associated with the extremities of saidcurtain-stick, and retracting-rod portions for said frictionbearingsurfaces also adapted to be mounted on said curtain externally ofand parallel with said curtain-stick and provided with means for drawingthem together.

27. In a curtain-fixture, the combination of a curtain stick or baradapted to be mounted transversely of a curtain or shade, frictionbearing-surfaces elastically associated with the extremities of saidcurtain-stick, and retracting-rod portions for said frictionbearingsurfaces also adapted to be mounted on said curtain externally ofsaid curtain-stick and projecting into proximity at their inner ends.

28. In a curtain-fixture, the combination of a curtain stick or baradapted to be mounted transversely of av curtain or shade, frictionbearing-surfaces elastically associated with the extremities of saidcurtain-stick, and retracting-rod portions for said frictionbearingsurfaces also adapted to be mounted on said curtain externally ofsaid curtain-stick and provided with means for drawing them together.

29. In a curtain-fixture, a spring-actuated holding part formed toengage the guideway of a window-frame and a pinch-handle carrieddirectly by the spring thereof formed to project without said guideway.

30. In a curtain-fixture, a spring-actuated holding part formed toengage the guideway of a window-frame and a pinch-handle integral withthe spring thereof formed toproject without said guideway.

PAUL A. HOUGHTALING.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM E. BRADLEY, ELIAS H. WVHITE.

